Newsletter December 2009

This issue

Welcome to the December 2009 edition of Saint Paul's Academy's newsletter!

In this issue:

• Annual Awards Evening
• Advent, the time to reflect
• Supporting good causes
• Our fundraising is very closely linked to our Enterprise Specialism
• Pantomime season
• In complete contrast
• Please note
• Brilliant new sports facilities
• Planning the new school has taken along time
• Moving into the new building is going to be a fantastic experience
• 85 years between them
• Thanks to our neighbours
• Important dates
• Holiday dates
• From our football correspondent

Dear Parents and Guardians

“As we approach Christmas and the New Year, we feel all the usual sense of excitement, but of course for Saint Paul’s Academy the excitement is far greater than usual as we prepare for the move to our new building. However, before I talk about the move, I want to look back and reflect on the last halfterm.”

Patrick Winston, Principal

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Annual Awards Evening

We celebrated our annual Awards Evening at Charlton Athletic Football Club on Thursday 3rd December and we were delighted to welcome Bishop Pat Lynch as a guest of honour. Even though they only left Saint Paul’s 6 months ago, last year’s Year 11 have changed beyond recognition and the young adults we met at Awards Evening were poised and gracious; it is obvious that the vast majority are enjoying their post-16 studies and fully appreciate the education, both academic and pastoral, that they received at Saint Paul’s.

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Advent, the time to reflect

Liturgically, Advent is the season when we take time to stop and reflect at the start of a new church year. At Saint Paul’s we have also traditionally used Advent as the time when we focus our attention on others less fortunate than ourselves and not only do we raise money to support various causes, we also take the opportunity to learn more about different people’s situations and also keep our chosen charities in our thoughts and prayers.

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Supporting good causes

This year we chose to support two very familiar causes; Sr. Ann in Kenya and Breast Cancer Awareness. Sr. Ann has been a friend to Saint Paul’s for many years now and I have said before that as a community, we have benefited as much from knowing her and learning from her work as her community has benefited from us. We have given money and supported Kenyan students and their families so that as many young people as possible have the chance to complete their secondary education rather than having to go out to work to earn money at a very young age. Without doubt, our lives have been enriched by this contact because we have been asked to question many things we take for granted; free education, a roof over our heads and plenty of food and clothing. It is easy to read statistics and to learn that two thirds of the world’s population lack the basic essentials we take for granted but it is far more powerful to engage with a specific community where this is the case.

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Our fundraising is very closely linked to our Enterprise Specialism

You will be very familiar with the fact that we have two specialisms; Sport and Enterprise and while the former is very clear I am often asked the exact nature of the latter. In essence, the Enterprise Specialism allows students to develop different skills and qualities, such as making decisions, working with others and, very importantly, financial literacy. An example of this is ‘Flourishing Fivers’, which was recently undertaken by Year 7 forms, and which asked students to ‘make their money work’. Each group was given £5 and the challenge was to devise an activity or event to generate as much profit as possible.

As we move into Advent and focus on fund raising we cannot ignore Children in Need; in Food Technology Pudsey Bear chocolates were produced and Year 8 collected pound coins to fill Pudsey Bear shapes. These are further examples of how we combine our Enterprise Specialism fund raising and the teaching of financial literacy.

All these activities are great fun but they also teach our students a great many life skills which would be very hard to deliver solely in the taught curriculum. Students gain confidence, have to use their initiative and think independently. When something goes wrong they have to realise that not all decisions are the right ones and that sometimes in life things do not work out as we planned. Through the Enterprise Specialism, students can do all these things in the safety of the school environment where they are supported and encouraged by staff.

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Pantomime season

This time of year is also traditionally the pantomime season and many theatres have shows and concerts reflecting seasonal themes. At Saint Paul’s we have taken full advantage of the wide range of theatrical and musical performances available, not only in Central London, but also locally. It would take far too long to list all the shows which Saint Paul’s students have been to, but they have ranged from the whole of Year 7 going to ‘Mother Goose’ at Greenwich Theatre to Year 10 students taking part in ‘Today Wasted!’ an interactive Theatre in Education piece sponsored by Greenwich Council which warns against the dangers of drink driving and the danger of getting into a car with a driver under the influence of alcohol.

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In complete contrast

Year 8 students took part in an interactive exhibition at the Imperial War Museum called the ‘Terrible Trenches’. Students experienced the smells of the trenches and they were challenged to ‘splat the rats’ which lived there. They also had a glimpse of the life that young people of their age would have led and found that it was very austere! Debate Mate has been going from strength to strength, with around 35 students from years 9 and 10 attending every week. Students have been on a trip to Mayfair for the launch event where students met politicians, businessmen, women and lawyers. So far, our Debate Mate mentors have been really impressed with Saint Paul’s students. Both ‘old-timers’ who came last year, and the new students who joined over the re-launch in November, have been progressing rapidly and Saint Paul’s is currently the most dedicated and busiest Debate Mate School in London, which is excellent considering the huge number now involved.

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Please note

The drama department are completing auditions for ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ a production of which will hopefully help us to celebrate our brilliant new facilities in July next year.

Come along and get involved.

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Brilliant new sports facilities

One of the most significant changes when we move to the new site will of course be our new sports facilities.

In door facilities will include

Not only will we have an amazing, full size, Sports Hall which will provide facilities for the Netball and Basketball Teams as well housing trampolines, gymnastics equipment and Volley Ball and Badminton Courts, we will also have a fitness suite and dance studio.

Out door facilities will include

Tennis and Netball Courts, as well as the Football Pitches which include a 5-a-side ‘3-G’ pitch. (‘3-G’ or Third Generation is the most sophisticated form of artificial surface available.) We are very much looking forward to the completion of a 3-G pitch, with surround and floodlights, which will enable us to play evening games.

New netball and basketball leagues

In anticipation of our new facilities Saint Paul’s Academy, Girls’ P.E. has been working to create a Greenwich Schools’ Netball League and a Greenwich Schools’ Basketball League for girls in Years 7 to 9 across the Borough. Saint Ursula’s has already established a borough wide Football League and we look forward to more schools getting involved in some healthy competition!

Student umpires

In order to prepare for the increased number of fixtures we are training our own student umpires and recently three senior netballers completed the Beginners Award Netball Coach.

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Planning the new school has taken along time

Wickham Lane site since 1968 and throughout this time there have been a number of schemes set up to give us a new building. In the early seventies, a move seemed almost definite but the plans never came to fruition. At this point, Plumstead Bus Garage occupied the site opposite the school where Wickes is now located and it was suggested that Saint Paul’s School move to Plumstead High Street on the site of what in fact became the new Plumstead Bus Garage. Obviously, the buses needed more space than we did! Similarly, in the mid-nineties a move to Thamesmead on the site of the former Waterfield School failed to materialise when it became obvious that Woolwich Polytechnic needed new buildings even more urgently than we did.

Even after the Academy was first mooted in November 2002 there were many times when, for various reasons, we did not think it would become a reality. The consultation processes were long and drawn out, but eventually, in September 2005, we opened as an Academy. At this point, the plan was to move into the new building in September 2007 and temporary buildings were erected on the Wickham Lane site to see us through until then. Of course, the reality was very different and since opening as an Academy we have been on the Wickham Lane site in extremely cramped conditions for four and a half years.

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Moving into the new building is going to be a fantastic experience

Watching the progress made over the last few weeks has been phenomenal because it is at this stage that things finally come together and as the building has been decorated and the furniture moved in we can finally visualise our new school. However, it is not without a sense of nostalgia that we leave Wickham Lane; a significant number of staff have worked here for over 20 years and some staff were educated here! Many people have achieved so much and the school has gone from strength to strength because of the magnificent support from staff over the last 40 years.

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85 years between them

At this point I want to mention three members of staff who will be retiring at the end of this term and therefore not moving with us to the new building. Marion Prior has given 37 years of outstanding service to Saint Paul’s, working first of all as the Librarian and then taking over as the Headteacher’s Secretary at very short notice. Throughout this time Mrs Prior has worked for four head teachers and has consistently done a fantastic job, even in the face of adversity. Rene Cunningham has been a member of our premises staff for 33 years and throughout this time has maintained the highest standards in every aspect of her work. Fran Daley has been with us for a relatively short time; only 15 years! Mrs Daley moved to Saint Paul’s from the Royal Bank of Scotland to take up a post with the premises staff. She then became a teaching assistant and has been a valued member of the Religion and Society Learning Zone for the last four and a half years. We would like to thank them all for their enormous contribution to our community and wish them every happiness in the future.

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Thanks to our neighbours

We also have to say goodbye to our neighbours on Wickham Lane some of whom we have known for many years. Some staff, including myself, Ms Wheeler, our Vice Principal, Mrs Gobey, Mr Sidwell, Mr Smith and Dr Hartiss, four of our Assistant Principals, have all been here for over 20 years and during this time we have maintained excellent relationships with local residents. I would like to thank all our neighbours for their support and tolerance, particularly since the foundation of the Academy.

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Important dates

Monday, 11th January 2010	English “Pilot” exam
Wednesday, 13th January 2010	English “Pilot” exam
Thursday, 14th January 2010	Science Module Tests
Wednesday, 20th January 2010	Science Module Tests
Wednesday, 27th January 2010	Year 9 Consultation Evening at 3pm
Wednesday, 3rd February 2010	Year 8 to Whitstable
Monday, 22nd January 2010	Science module tests
Monday, 15th February 2010 – Friday, 19th February 2010	Half Term Holiday

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Holiday dates

Christmas Holidays	Monday 21st December 2010 to Friday 1st January 2010
Spring Term	Monday 4th January 2010 to Wednesday 31st March 2010
Spring Half Term	Monday 15th February 2010 to Friday 19th February 2010
Easter Holidays	Thursday 1st April 2010 to Friday 16th April 2010
Summer Term	Monday 19th April 2010 to Friday 23rd July 2010
May Day Holiday	Monday 3rd May 2010
Summer Half Term	Monday 31st May 2010 to Friday 4th June 2010

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From our football correspondent - first chapter

Football teams throughout the school have taken part in a number of fixtures including the National Cup and the Kent Cup.

The complete set of results to date is:

Year 7

Opponents	Competition	Score
Cleeve Park	Friendly	Won 5-2
Bexley GS	Friendly	Won 4-1
Harvey GS	Friendly	Lost 3-5
Bridge Academy	National Cup	Drew 3-3
Ravenswood	Friendly	Lost 1-8
Haverstock	National Cup	Won 3-0
Woodbridge HS	National Cup	Won 2-1
St Columba’s	Friendly	Lost 1-7
Bishop Challoner	Friendly	Won 6-1
Sittingbourne CC	National Cup	Won 3-0
City of London “A”	Friendly	Lost 1-3
City of London “B”	Friendly	Won 9-5
Swan Valley	Kent Cup	Won 5-3

Goalscorers: M. Okoro 8, O. Ejaria 8, S. Aluko 7, K. Ikpefuran 5, Dennis Bennett 4, Devante Bennett 4, L .Joseph 4, A. Quansah 3, S. Kamara 1, R. Steven 1, S. Eganda 1.

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Year 8

Opponents	Competition	Score
Cleeve Park	Friendly	Won 5-2
Bexley GS	Friendly	Won 4-3
Harvey GS	Friendly	Lost 3-5
Stoke Newington	National Cup	Lost 3-4 AET
St Matthew “A”	Friendly	Lost 4-5
St Matthew “B”	Friendly	Lost 2-4
Ravensbourne	Kent Cup	Lost 5-9 AET
Bishop Challoner	Friendly	Won 5-1
St Columba’s	Friendly	Lost 1-4
City of London “A”	Friendly	Lost 0-2
City of London “B”	Friendly	Won 2-3

Goalscorers: T. Olagunju 14, R. President 5, J. Adekoya 4 Williamson 3, K. McMahon 2, T. Odusanwo 2, A. O’Brien 2, J. Olaleye 1, M. Gambanga 1, P. Zoil 1, M. Mwambazi 1.

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Year 9

Opponents	Competition	Score
Cleeve Park	Friendly	Won 10-0
Harvey GS	Friendly	Lost 4-5
Ashcroft College	National Cup	Won 10-1
Borden GS	Kent Cup	Won 10-1
Charters	National Cup	Won 11-1
Chatham South	Kent Cup	Won 6-0
Douay Martyrs	National Cup	Won 8-0
St Columba’s	Friendly	Lost 2-3
Ravenswood	National Cup	Won 6-0
Holmesdale	Kent Cup	Won 6-2
City of London “A”	Friendly	Won 8-0
City of London “B”	Friendly	Won 11-1
Bishop Challoner	Friendly	Won 8-1

Goalscorers: T. Adeloye 25, O. Isichei 16, B. Owusu-Ansah 11, D. President 10, B. Anidugbe 6, A. Baptiste 5, T. Pemu 5, W. Orimolusi 4, C. Walcott-Blunt 4, B. Holdsworth 4, S. Shote 2, J. Tshibangu 2, A. Achour 2, H. O’Hara 1, A. Boahen 1, S. Okerayi 1, Own Goal 1.

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Year 10

Opponents	Competition	Score
Kelsey Park	Friendly	Lost 2-3
Cleeve Park	Friendly	Won 5-1
Harvey GS	Friendly	Won 5-1
Wilson’s	National Cup	Lost 3-4 AET
Ravenswood	Friendly	Lost 0-2
Wilmington GS	Kent Cup	Won 2-0
City of London “A”	Friendly	Won 2-1
City of London “B”	Friendly	Lost 1-3
St Columba’s	Friendly	Won 4-2

Goalscorers: N. Eka 5, K. Brown 4, U. Apotabore 3, J. Olufade 2, A. Rufino 2, A. Bayeto 2, Y. Afolabi 1, K. Okogwu 1, V. Ejaria 1, J. Garrett 1, E. Coffey 1, Own Goal 1.

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Year 11

Opponents	Competition	Score
City of London	Friendly	Won 3-0
Bexleyheath	Kent Cup	Won 1-0
Hayes	Kent Cup	Won 3-2 AET
Meopham	Kent Cup	Lost 1-4
Hurstmere	Kent Cup	Lost 0-1

Goalscorers: O. Odebunmi 2, M. Brobbey 1, A. Swain 1, A. Wright 1, L. Obembe 1, E. Bakarr 1, Own Goal 1.

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Girls tournaments - Year 7 to 11

Opponents	Competition	Score
Swan Valley	Kent Cup (U14)	Lost 1-3
John Roan	Friendly	Won 7-1
*Bexley BA	Kent Cup (U16)	Drew 1-1
John Roan	Friendly	Drew 2-2
Ravensbourne	Kent Cup (U16)	Lost 2-9
Hayes	Kent Cup (U13)	Lost 3-4
John Roan	Friendly	Drew 1-1
Hayes	Friendly	Lost 0-4

*Won on penalties

Goalscorers: L. Smith 5, V. Asare 3, S. Shittu 2, R. Grant-Regis 1, L. Bailey 1, Y. Kadri 1, M. Owusu-Ansah 1, L. Higgins-Page 1.

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Playing record 2008/2009

	P	W	D	L	F	A
Year 7	13	8	1	4	46	39
Year 8	11	4	0	7	36	42
Year 9	13	11	0	2	100	15
Year 10	9	5	0	4	24	17
Year 11	5	3	0	2	8	7
Girls	8	2	2	4	17	25
Total	59	33	3	23	231	145

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